Target-trap.



N0. 880,394. 1 Y PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

I G. NIGOLAI.

TARGET TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1901.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

til-JORGE NICOLAI, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO B. E. HAIRGROVE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

'12: all u'ilomit may concern:

Be it known that l, (lsonma NicoLAI, a I

citizen of the l'nited States, residing at Denver, in the city and county of Denver and St ate of ('olorado, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Target-Traps; and l do declare the following to be a. full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which i! a ppertains to makeand use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings. and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this sgwcilication.

My invention relates to target traps, and more particularly to traps for throwing clay targets: the object of my invention being to provide a device of that class which is simple and economical both in construction and operation. In accomplishing this object I have eliminated the customary carrier in which the target is usually gripped during the discharging swing of the carrier arm, and have provided a platform upon which the target may rest. and a throwing arm adapted for sweeping the target along. and discharging same from said platform.

A further object is to provide the improved details of structure which will presently be fuhy described and pointed out in the claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings. in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. and in which 2- Figure l is a iers wctive view of a target: trap constructet according to my invention. Fig. ll is a top plan view of same. is an enlarged edge view of the target throwing arm. Fig. l\'.is an enlarged top plan :iewofsame.

Referring more in detail to the parts: l designates the trap base. which mav be lievolubly Fig. 11 l flange 11 on standard 3; said bolt being preferably rigid with said arms, and having 8. loose tit in "aid slot, in order that. it may travei freely in the slot when it is desired to tilt the frame to vary'the elevation of the target. Bolt 9 is threaded atone end and carries a hand nut 12, which maybe tightened against the yoke and draw the yoke arms against flange 11 to lock said parts together. Supported on a. bracket 13, carried by frame 8 is a. platform 14, which projects forwardly from the side of said frame, and on which the target is seated, and over which the target travels when being discharged.

15 designates a guide rail, against which the'target is placed when seated on platform 14.

At the free end of. frame 8 is a shaft hearing 16, and revolubly mounted in said hearing is a shaft 17, upon which is keyed a collar 18 of a laterally projecting bracket 19.

'ltigidly secured to bracket. 19 is the target throwing arm 31), which is preferably formed of a bottom strip 21, of metal, having a. projecting portion 22 secured to bracket 19, 8. top strip 23, of metal, and an intermediate strip .24, of leather or like material, which strip 24 projects slightly from the edge-f the arm body, and is adapted for engagement with the target. Bracket 19 is provided with a finger 25, which projects over the arm body, and carries a set screw 26, by

; which said arm is adjusted vertically to sei cure a proper target engagement.

mounted on base I is the base flange 2 of the frame standard 3. said flange having an arcuate slot 4 through which a stud rigidlv mounted on base 1. projects. Stud is threaded at its upper end and carries a hand nut 6 by means of which the flange 2 may be locked in a desired position on base 1.

livoted to standard 3 by means of a bolt 7 is a frame which is provided near its base with a yoke is, the arms of which are perforated to receive a bolt 9. which extends theretlirough. and through an arcuate slot in a.

Shaft. 17 projects below the bearing 16, and is there provided with a crank 27, which projects from the shaft in a direction opposite to that or the throwing arm, and on the end of said crank is mounted one end of the coil spring 28; the other end of said spring being secured to a. bolt 2!) which is carried b frame ts; said bolt having a nut- 30 by whic it is moved forwardly or back, to secure a proper tension of the spring.

31 designates a handle on frame 8, by means of which the frame may be conveniently moved, when it is desired to vary its angle'or elevation.

When in use, the frame is set at a desired angle by means of the bolt and slot arrange: ment previously described, and the throw arm 20 drawn back behind the platform rail 15. As arm .20 is drawn back, too crank .27 is moved fdrwardly, tensioning spring 28. When the arm is in the position noted, a target is laced on the platform, against rail 15,

form, it is revolving very rapidly. which ac- -'wardly on said platform and along the arm and t e throw arm eased forward into engagement therewith. Upon receiving a sig nal from the shooter, the trap operator re leases the throw arm, which is then rapidly I revolved by the retraction of spring 28, and in its revolution sweeps the target forwardly 3 over the platform, and discharges it therefrom. By providing the throw arm with a 1 target engaging portion of leather or like material, there is a tendency of the target to hold thereagainst, instead of sliding along the edge of the arm, which causes a revolution 0 the target as it is swept outwardly, until, at the moment of leaving the 'plattion imparts a steady and even flight to the target.

Having thus described my invention, what l I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. A target trap comprising a plaformli adaptedfor the support of a target prior to I and during the initial portion of the target flight, a revoluble arm adapted for engagei went with a target near the arm base prior to discharge and for moving such target outduring the discharge. and means for actuating said arm.

A target trap comprising a platform, a curved flange projecting from the face of said platform and forming --the rear abut. ment of a forwardly unobstructed target seat, a revoluble throw arm extending across and beyond said seat, and means for actuating said throw arm.

3. A target trap comprising a target supmounted at one end and adapted for initial engagement with a target near the arm I porting platform, a throw arm revolublyi mounting and for longitudinall Y progressing l the target flight, a friction inducing member on said arm, and means for actuating said arm, substantially as and for the. purpose set forth.

5. In a target trap, the combination with target supporting means of a target throwing arm comprising top and bottom body portions and an intermediate portion of a 1 relatively yielding material, said intermediate portion being extended beyond the top and bottom portions at the target engaging edge, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a target trap, the combination with a suitable frame, of a target sup orting platform carried by said frame, a t irowing arm revolubly mcunted on said frame and adapted for movement over said platform in a plane substantially parallel with said platform, said arm comprising top and bottom body portions and an intermedia e portion of relatively yielding material adapted for engagement with a target seated on said latform, and means for actuating said t row arm HAZEL Ran) Sac KETT. 

